In the Imperial Capital, at an inn in the Fourteenth Ward of Xuanwu Domain.
Although the inn was in the Grand Qian Imperial Capital,
it was clear that not all people in the Imperial Capital were wealthy enough to have well-decorated storefronts.
At least this inn was remarkably simple.
However, precisely because of this, the prices were very affordable, and peddlers and porters often came here for a meal.
Among them were several Imperial Guards wearing Flying Fish Robes and carrying Embroidered Spring Blades at their waists.
They ate their meal while complaining.
“Damn it! Where in the world is that Poison Shuttle Guest?”
“Motherfucker, those rat-like guys sure can hide!”
“We clearly chased him here last night, but after searching all morning, there’s still no sign of him. He really knows how to hide!”
“Yeah, it looks like we won’t catch him.”
“I wonder why Lin Baihu hasn’t called off the search yet.”
“Our Baihu is a noble scion who just took office. He has no accomplishments, so of course he wants to show off.”
“But why does he insist on capturing him alive?”
“Exactly! That Poison Shuttle Guest is a Nine Ranks Martial Artist, and he has a formidable skill with hidden weapons. Capturing him alive sounds simple, but if something goes wrong, a few of our brothers might even be lost…”
“I heard the Poison Shuttle Guest knows the locations of several black markets. Perhaps he’s thinking of extorting some money?”
The men spoke one after another, their voices full of complaints.
After all, as low-ranking constables, those on the front lines didn’t have the confidence of the Baihu to extort money from black markets, nor would they get any share of the benefits.
Yet they had to risk their lives to capture the bandit alive…
Who wouldn't complain?
Of course, there was!
A young man with a face like jade slightly raised his head and said, “Why must we capture him alive?”
“Huh?” The others were all stunned.
“Lin Baihu said to capture him alive if possible, but it’s not a death order to capture him alive,” the young man said as if it were obvious. “In other words, it depends on the situation. If he needs to be killed, he can still be killed.”
The expressions of several diners nearby who overheard their conversation were very strange.
Where did this greenhorn come from?
Your superior asked to ‘capture him alive if possible,’ and you respond with ‘if he needs to be killed, he can still be killed’?
The other Imperial Guards also had strange expressions, but what they said was different from what the diners thought.
They said:
“Fang Ye, you’re not thinking of killing someone again, are you?”
“This time, it’s a direct order from the Baihu to keep him alive.”
“It’s not like those petty thieves you killed before, who could be killed or not killed!”
“Those foolish thieves before, you killed them and that was that.”
“Don’t mess around this time!”
Thinking of killing again?
Killed the previous ones and that was that?
Upon hearing this, the diners felt a chill down their spines.
Indeed, they were the infamous Imperial Guards!
The young man’s appearance was quite handsome.
His nose bridge stood tall like a green peak, with sword-like Phoenix eyes, radiating vigor, and a face like a jade crown.
If he took off his Flying Fish Robe, he might even be mistaken for a young hero just starting out…
Yet his true nature was so brutal?
Frightened, the diners quickly paid their bills and left, not daring to linger.
However, Fang Ye smiled helplessly and said, “How could that be? If I can keep him alive, of course I will.”
“But that Poison Shuttle Guest is also a Nine Ranks Martial Artist. How can he be so easy to deal with?”
“I’m just preparing for the worst!”
“I don’t want to risk my life to keep him alive.”
This sounded reasonable.
The other Imperial Guards nodded. They also had no intention of risking their lives to carry out the Baihu’s order.
“Indeed, I also don’t want to trade my life for the Poison Shuttle Guest’s capture.”
“But that being said, the Poison Shuttle Guest’s strength is not weak. He killed two people last night, and with the previous murder cases he committed, it’s well over ten. He’s a notorious villain.”
“His ability to hide is also formidable. The Baihu has been chasing him for so long, only managing to corner him in this ward, but hasn’t caught him yet.”
“He’s hidden while we’re exposed, and he’s skilled with shuttle-like hidden weapons. He’s very troublesome. It’s not something we can guarantee our lives with just by wanting to.”
The men spoke one after another.
Their morale was somewhat low, and their faces looked grim.
An older Imperial Guard, seeing this, quickly said, “He’s good at hiding, so we might not even encounter him. Most likely, it will just be a wasted effort.”
“Alright, we’ve eaten and drunk our fill. It’s time to continue the search!”
Everyone nodded and stood up to leave.
The waiter, seeing this, quickly ran over and shouted, “Gentlemen, you haven’t paid yet!”
“Pay?”
The Imperial Guards, whose morale had been low just a second ago, instantly changed their expressions.
One by one, they glared menacingly at the waiter.
One person angrily rebuked, “I work hard, just to ensure the safety of you commoners. It’s bad enough you’re not grateful, but you dare to ask me for money?”
Another snorted coldly, “As an official, I am busy with official duties. Eating a meal at your establishment is doing you a favor. What? You’re ungrateful?”
Another narrowed his eyes and said sinisterly, “My brothers and I are on official duty. You’re bothering us here. Could you be an accomplice of that Poison Shuttle Guest?”
Pay?
If they paid, would they still be Imperial Guards?
Go ask around the nearby eateries, when have we Imperial Guards ever paid for a meal?
Fang Ye was also very cooperative. He directly placed his hand on his Embroidered Spring Blade, saying nothing, just staring at the waiter’s neck, as if he would draw his blade and cut him down the next second.
The waiter, being intensely scrutinized by several notorious Imperial Guards, was instantly terrified and trembled slightly.
He just forced himself to say, “But what you ate was too expensive, three large plates of beef, that would be—”
But the Imperial Guards had already seen some weakness in the pitiful waiter.
Next, with a few more threats, not only would they not pay, but they could even take the opportunity to extort a sum from the owner.
This was a rare ‘extra income’ for low-ranking Imperial Guards!
So, an experienced Imperial Guard immediately shouted, “How dare you! You dare to slander the Imperial Guards, you are seeking death!”
Saying that, he was about to draw his blade.
However, Fang Ye was faster than him!
He swiftly drew his blade and, without hesitation, directly slashed down.
The trembling waiter hadn’t even reacted before his neck was severed by the single strike.
Blood instantly sprayed out, hot plasma, splattering everywhere.
The tables and chairs were soaked in blood!
The inn, filled with the smell of food, was covered by the thick stench of blood.
In that instant, it was as if time had paused.
Whether it was the inn owner who was about to come over to smooth things out, the diners who hadn’t left yet, or the passersby watching the commotion at the entrance, all were completely stunned, their eyes blank.
Then…
“Mu… murder!”
“The Imperial Guards murdered someone in the street!”
The inn owner, diners, and passersby all shouted, retreating repeatedly, their faces filled with terror.
“Fang Ye! What are you doing?!” The Imperial Guards were also dumbfounded.
They were just putting on an act, threatening and extorting, that’s all.
But Fang Ye… you actually killed someone!
You’re too straightforward!
We were just bluffing to scare people!
The Imperial Guards’ expressions instantly became solemn.
This was a problem!
Although the Imperial Guards were notorious and acted aggressively,
they didn’t have the right to just kill people casually!
Fang Ye…
This was a crime!
“Don’t worry.”
However, Fang Ye waved his hand with a calm expression: “I’m not killing randomly. This waiter should be that Poison Shuttle Guest.”
Everyone was stunned. The oldest Imperial Guard hesitated, then stepped forward and searched the waiter’s body.
And then, he actually found a pile of things!
Poisoned flying shuttles.
Black cloth for masking.
And a Cultivation Technique for hidden weapons called “Nether Shuttle”…
“It really is the Poison Shuttle Guest!” the old Imperial Guard exclaimed.
What?
It’s really the Poison Shuttle Guest?
Fang Ye killed the Poison Shuttle Guest?
All the Imperial Guards were dumbfounded. The target they had been searching for everywhere was actually working as a waiter in the inn?
And Fang Ye discovered him and killed him directly?
“Fang Ye, how did you discover his identity?”
Everyone couldn’t help but ask.
Fang Ye shrugged and casually said, “Just a little bit of observation. The Poison Shuttle Guest is a Nine Ranks Martial Artist. Even if he tries to hide, his physique is different from ordinary people, and his gait is also unusual.”
“Isn’t this an essential observation skill for us Imperial Guards?”
The other Imperial Guards: ???
What you said sounds quite reasonable.
But if we really had such abilities, would we still be foolishly threatening and extorting a criminal?
Fang Ye just added in his mind.
“Most importantly—such an obvious big red name, if he’s not the problem, who is?!”
...